Toys are a child’s best friend. They are played with, tossed around, slept with, and chewed on. Before long, you can see dirt and grime on them and there are the things you cannot see – germs and allergens. Before you hastily pick up all your child’s toys to clean them together in one basin, please read the following recommendations because different toys require different methods to clean and care for.

How often should I clean toys?

How frequently toys need cleaning depends on your child’s health condition and how much she or he plays with the toys. Generally, the more the toys are played with, the more the cleaning and disinfection should be. When your child is healthy:

• Plastic and rubber toys should be cleaned and sanitized weekly if they are played with daily.
• Plush toys should be laundered once a week, every other week, or as needed. The non-washable ones should be freshened and spot cleaned when they need them.
• Electronic toys should get a sanitizing wipe down weekly.
• Baby toys that are put in a child’s mouth and dropped on the floor should be cleaned every one to two days.

When your child is sick such as having the flu, the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting their toys should be increased to daily.

How to clean plastic and rubber toys

Dilute 20ml of bleach with 1 bucket of water. Soak the toys for 5 minutes. After soaking, rinse with water to remove the remnants of the solution and air dry.

How to clean plush toys

Check the care labels of the plush toys. Once you find out if they are washable and dryable, you are ready to put them in a washer. Stuff the toys in a pillowcase and knot the top. Select gentle cycle and warm water. Dry on a low-heat setting.

Some plush toys can only stand up to hand washing. Dip a cloth in a warm sudsy solution, wring well, and go over the entire toy. Dip another cloth in clear water, wring well, and rinse the entire toy. Air dry or use a hairdryer. To eliminate bacteria, dust mites, and other allergens, go over them slowly with a garment steamer, then vacuum the toy thoroughly.

How to clean electronic toys

Turn off and disconnect the toy or remove any batteries. Dip a cloth in warm soapy water and wring it. Wipe the toy without missing the crevices. Dip another cloth in clean water, wring it, and rinse the toy. To kill bacteria and viruses, use a cloth dipped in a diluted bleach solution to wipe and let it stand for 5 minutes. Rinse with a damp cloth and air dry.

Choo Choo Train keeps all the toys in the centre clean through a standard operating procedure (SOP). Children are taught to wash their own toys with soap and water too! Since the pandemic, each child gets their own set of toys without sharing with friends as they sit in a distance. The toys get cleaned and disinfected after every use so parents don’t have to worry about their child’s safety.